As part of the Melrose Plaza Grand Opening Celebration on July 31, 2025, we will honor extraordinary lives, past and present, at the unveiling of our History Wall!
Click for Grand Opening Details
Melrose Plaza is honoring historical figures, people, places, and landmarks integral to Roanoke’s Northwest Community through the Melrose Plaza History Wall. The nominees were selected based on historical significance, community impact, achievement and legacy.
Our goal is to create a memorial that honors the diverse and impactful leaders and events that shaped history in Roanoke. Nominees were shared via a form on this page for public feedback during the month of October 2024, and we thank those who participated. Your input was invaluable in helping us honor the rich history and inspiring individuals in our neighborhood.
This History Wall will be an anchor in the center of the Plaza. A Living Legends exhibit and a Hidden in Plain Site virtual reality exhibit will also be featured at Melrose Plaza. Combined, these features aim to tell the story of history-makers and overlooked locations that represent the history of Northwest Roanoke.
Living Legends
As part of the Melrose Plaza Grand Opening celebration, we will celebrate local historical figures along with seven current leaders. We call them Living Legends.
RICHARD CHUBB, educator
DORIS ENNIS, educator
SHERMAN LEA SR, civic leader, former City of Roanoke mayor
PETER LEWIS, educator, founder of Apple Ridge Farm
PEGGY SUE MASON, educator
DR. REGINALD SHAREEF, professor at Radford University
CLAUDIA WHITWORTH, editor of the Roanoke Tribune
Join us July 31 as we welcome the inaugural Living Legends at the Melrose Plaza Grand Opening Celebration.